Aliquippa punches ticket to WPIAL high school football championship in win over New Castle
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ELLWOOD CITY — Revenge is sweet, and for Aliquippa, it got its revenge against a Parkway conference foe, blanking No. 3 New Castle 14-0 to punch its ticket back to the WPIAL Class 4A championship for the first time since 2023.
“I am proud of these guys. It has been an up-and-down year with injuries and other things. But we grinded every step of the way,” Aliquippa head coach Mike Warfield said. “The core kept their heads down, and it is good for them because there is no growth without pain.”
The last time the two teams faced off on Sept. 26, the Aliquippa coaching staff counted how many missed tackles it had against New Castle, with the number hovering around 50.
In that matchup, New Castle (9-3) beat the Quips by six points, as freshman quarterback Marino Graham had his way with the defense, scoring three total touchdowns, beating Aliquippa with his arm and his legs.
However, in the rematch, Aliquippa (8-3) tightened up on defense, making a goal-line stand as time expired in the first half, forcing a multitude of turnovers in the second half, including a handful of forced fumbles and an interception by QaLil Goode.
“We needed to contain Marino Graham tonight, and we did that,” Aliquippa senior linebacker Lester Longmire said. “Last game against New Castle, we missed 54 tackles, which was big. We played a lot more physical tonight, sent 11 hats to the ball, and we got out of there with the win.”
While the defense stepped up in the second meeting, offensively, it wasn’t the prettiest of games for Aliquippa, failing to cash in off turnovers and coughing up the football twice deep in New Castle territory.
But with senior quarterback Marques Council under center and New Castle trying to defend the pass, Aliquippa’s run game broke a couple of big plays, including a 39-yard scamper from JJ Work to break the scoreless tie and Longmire plunging in from a yard out to ice the game.
“Marques brings another dynamic to the team and you have to respect the pass,” Warfield said. “We missed a couple tonight, got one touchdown called back, but in these types of games, you have to have a short memory and keep playing.”
Now, Aliquippa will begin preparation for the WPIAL Class 4A championship, reaching the title game for the 16th time in 17 seasons.
Aliquippa will take on top-seeded McKeesport, who defeated Thomas Jefferson 28-3, led by running back and blue-chip recruit Kemon Spell.
Kick off for the title game will be at Pine-Richland Stadium on Saturday, November 15 at 12:05 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Aliquippa football’s defense blanks New Castle, advances to championship
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